By Kendall Sommers, III Form

Introduction from the Poet:

I enjoy writing poetry because using words creatively is an art form that acts as an outlet for me. Depicting my emotions with strings of words allows me to be more in tune to my inner self and helps me to explore different forms of expression. I am often inspired when reading my poems over again. I thoroughly enjoy seeing myself grow emotionally as a writer and as a person. The fact that there truly is always room for improvement in writing is fascinating for me. This understanding of poetry is what drives me to keep pouring myself into these pages. In addition, I also explore poetry by reading the works of other people, whether these are poems in books or magazines or the portfolios that my friends have me read over. I learn something from every line I read, and I am inspired by how open and unique every word and every writer is. I especially love the creative genre in which I write: free verse. I choose to write in a narrative tone because it allows for the story I always have to shine through. Some of my stories are emotional, some are funny, and some are seemingly meaningless, but I use all of them as a method of exploring my thoughts and seeing how they appear to other people as text. 

Below are some of my poems with explanations of how I crafted them.

The process I have while writing my poems depends on my feelings and personal state. I can write however I am feeling. The emotion may be a combination of confused and timid or one of excited and precise. My poems are meaningful to me because they help me connect my different thoughts. I construct my poems using no specific technique. Since I never took a structured poetry class, I am sometimes unsure with where to begin when organizing my poems. However, what I love about poetry is there is no rigid formula that I need in order to create a piece I can enjoy. I am able to let my words flow onto the page without worrying about formatting. Then, I go back and edit them to become a poem that flows smoothly. The pauses and breaks are what create the rhythm and mood to the poem. It is really a process of trial and error for me, but that is part of the immense fun. Due to the fact I have not had any direction in my work, I am especially excited to share and learn more at Saint Mark’s. The environment has so many opportunities for expression, and I cannot wait to immerse myself in this fantastic community even more.

The True Meaning of Friends

Friendship takes you into the unknown, unsure if you will ever come out.

Friendship is like breaking a heart you know can’t be fixed.

Trying to change your words when the damage has been done,

Or laughing, but knowing it will end in tears.

Forgiving, but you don’t know why.

Moving on while your heart stands still.

Like jumping in without enough breath, reaching to touch the bottom when you know it’s not there.

Diving in when you know it’s not deep enough.

Like trying to learn, but all there is to teach is pain,

a sore in your heart you know  will never heal.

Closing your eyes and knowing they may never open again.

It’s feeling something you know will be gone.

Like saying hello and knowing you will be saying goodbye.

It’s loving and losing somebody you know you can’t replace.

—

Explanation for “The True Meaning of Friends”:

This poem is one of my favorites because it was the first poem I had ever written for myself. I wrote it in sixth grade, and I have been working on it ever since. Previously, I would write poetry for assignments and school, but I had never considered it could be something for me. This piece is about friendship, but it is also about growth and learning. The reason I love it so much is because by editing it over and over, I am able to see my progression represented through the theme as well as the actual structure.

Above Paris

One of the most beautiful things I’ve seen is Paris waking up

The lights flickering on in bursts and the orange sun looming over the horizon,

melting into the blue and the blackness of the sky above.

The stars still shine although it is almost time to get ready.

A last wink before the day begins.

A see you later, but never a goodbye.

—

Explanation for “Above Paris”:

I wrote “Above Paris” on a plane coming home from a family trip. It is special to me because I felt so content when I wrote it, and I still feel that every time I read it. It is also a different format than many of my other pieces. Lacking in extensive spacing, it gives a unique rhythm with which I am excited to experiment more.

Across the Courtyard

When you peer out of the window

Across from your throne,

Do you think of me?

When the wind blows the waves across the sea

Outside your palace doors,

Do you think of me?

When you’re in your castle of hearts,

Do you know you have already stolen mine?

Do you think of me?

Because I think of you.

I think of you as I stare across the courtyard

To the ocean,

So distant.

I think of you when the blanket is thrown off my head

By the wind.

I think of you in my darkest hour

When the sky has turned to grey.

And I must join the waves of the ocean

And finally sailing towards you again.

—

Explanation for “Across the Courtyard”:

“Across the Courtyard” is a narrative poem. The writing of this poem required a great amount of trial and error. The technique was writing the whole thing, breaking it up, and re-doing it again. The story was similar each time but had different interpretations from everyone no matter the version. I chose this version because I love the way it reads with the breaks, and the story really spoke to me as a reader. The emotional appeal of a poem is something I like the keep consistent in all my works. It makes the experience of reading it more personal.

Kendall Sommers is a III Former from Southborough, MA. She loves running, writing, painting and playing with her dogs.